Karen

It just so happens that one of the things I most love about my language is one of the most difficult qualities for those learning English: phrasal verbs, such as “get in”, “get down”, “get up”, “get at”, etc.

Infinite combinations allow you to be very flexible and creative, but these phrases can be a real headache for non-English speakers. It can be difficult to understand the differences and nuances. For example, a friend’s foreign husband complained about not knowing when to say “sit down” and when to say “sit up” when talking to his children. But mastering phrasal verbs is essential because they are an integral part of the English language.

At least learners don’t have to memorise which words are masculine and which are feminine!